A seismic shift in tennis dominance as Eastern Europe outshines the U.S. Alexander Zverev grapples with domestic abuse allegations, and Nick Kyrgios contemplates the end of his career. Get the full scoop on these and more tennis stories that you probably missed this week.
Most Sports Have Started Punishing Accused Domestic Abusers. Tennis Is Still Protecting Its Own.: Starting a decade ago, the major North American sports leagues changed their approach to domestic violence allegations and usually move quickly when a player stands accused of abuse, with leagues and teams handing out stiff punishments. Professional tennis has taken a very different approach. Alexander Zverev, who’s been accused of domestic abuse by two ex-girlfriends and found liable by a criminal court in one of those cases, hasn’t been sanctioned by the tennis world at all. Instead, the Olympic gold medalist has been championed as one of the game’s biggest stars. Full Story: Slate
Why Eastern Europe has become better at tennis than the U.S.: “You grow up in some of these countries and you’ve got to win to survive and these players will die on a tennis court,” said Rennae Stubbs, the former Grand Slam champion from that once great tennis power Australia who has spent years living in the U.S. “If you’re from a place like the U.S. or Australia, chances are your life is pretty comfortable and you have to dig to find that inner mongrel part of your personality.” Full Story: The Athletic
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova urge women’s tennis to stay out of Saudi Arabia: Hall of Famers Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova are calling on the women’s tennis tour to stay out of Saudi Arabia, saying that holding the WTA Finals there “would represent not progress, but significant regression.” Full Story: AP News
At the age of 43, Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna is making history: Rohan Bopanna is set to become the world’s oldest No.1 tennis player in history at the age of 43. Full Story: CNN
Idiotic, selfish and unhealthy: tennis must call time on torturous 3am finishes: Late finishes are baked into the schedule of tennis far more than any other sport. And while new ATP and WTA rules state that matches now cannot start after 11pm, an improvement of sorts, this does not apply to grand slam tournaments. Full Story: The Guardian
Nick Kyrgios Says Tennis Career ‘May Be Over’ Amid Injury Woes: Tennis star Nick Kyrgios said Tuesday that his “time in the sport may be over,” an admission that he may never get back to the court amid his recent struggles with injury. Kyrgios wrote a column for The Sydney Morning Herald in which he revealed that he’d sat down with his agent in recent days to discuss the reality that he may be approaching the end of his playing career. Full Story: Sports Illustrated
“I’ve enjoyed every day”: Allan Stone’s 60 years at the AO: In his 60th consecutive Australian Open, as either a competitor or a commentator, you could say that Allan Stone’s tennis career has come full circle. Stone’s passion for the sport was sparked when, as a budding young player in country Victoria, he listened to a broadcast of a match featuring Australian legend Lew Hoad. Full Story: Australian Open
Andre Agassi Among Investors in DUPR Pickleball Rating System: DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the international rating system for pickleball, announced a new board, ownership and investors, as well as an influx of $8 million in funding to further advance its mission to unify the fast-growing sport with innovative technology and a dynamic global rating. Full Story: Racquet Sports Industry
‘Hell No, We Won’t Go.’ Pickleball Players Battle Silicon Valley Elites: San Francisco is closing some courts after complaint, led by owner of $29-million mansion (who has her own court). Pickleballers are in uproar. Full Story: WSJ
Road Trip! Match Point Brewing: Match Point Brewing began in a garage between two tennis doubles partners turned homebrewers. Full Story: Match Point Brewing Editorial Note: I am definitely going to try to get my hands on some of their product strictly for research purposes, of course.
David Shrigley wants your balls: ‘Just one of many stupid artworks I have made over the years’: At the British artist’s new Melbourne work, you can exchange a ratty old ball for a pristine new one.. Full Story: The Guardian
This Week in Professional Tennis
| Date | Tournament | Tour/Level | Location |
| 1/29-2/4 | Upper Austria Ladies Linz | WTA 500 | Austria |
| 1/29-2/4 | Thailand Open | WTA 250 | Thailand |
| 1/29-2/4 | Open Sud de France – Montpellier | ATP 250 | France |
